Sr. Engineering Manager

Howmet Aerospace•Fullerton, CA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Howmet Fastening Systems (HFS) is seeking a Senior Engineering Manager at its Fullerton, California location. Reporting to the Site Director of Operations, this role leads the engineering function in support of Fullerton Operations’ strategic and operational objectives. The Senior Engineering Manager provides organizational leadership and promotes customer focus, operational excellence, continuous improvement, and advanced problem-solving. The role develops engineering strategies to improve product quality, manufacturing capability, productivity, and reliability while supporting customer expectations and business growth. The position mentors and develops engineering leaders and team members, strengthens technical expertise, and fosters accountability, innovation, and collaboration. It also leads engineering initiatives, cross-functional improvement efforts, capital planning and execution, and the integration of manufacturing technologies and equipment. The role ensures engineering activities support customer requirements, regulatory standards, aerospace specifications, and site priorities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related technical field from an accredited institution.
Minimum of 8–10 years of engineering experience, including progressive leadership responsibility in manufacturing environments.
Demonstrated experience leading engineering teams and driving operational improvements in manufacturing.
Strong leadership skills and experience mentoring and developing engineering leaders and technical teams.
Advanced problem-solving skills using structured methodologies.
Ability to lead cross-functional initiatives that improve safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
Strategic thinking and ability to translate business objectives into engineering execution.
Strong communication and influence skills for engaging senior leadership, cross-functional teams, and external stakeholders.
Ability to analyze and interpret technical, operational, and regulatory information and translate it into actionable strategies.
Demonstrated experience leading continuous improvement initiatives that generate measurable operational results.
Strong project management skills, including experience managing capital projects and engineering initiatives in a manufacturing environment.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, CAD models, GD&T, and aerospace manufacturing specifications.
Strong understanding of aerospace manufacturing processes such as stamping, heading, machining, grinding, heat treatment, coatings, and secondary operations.
Ability to lift or move 30 pounds, subject to EHS policies.
Ability to stand for long periods of time.

Nice To Haves

Aerospace manufacturing experience is strongly preferred.
Experience in aerospace fastener manufacturing environments.
Experience leading capital investment projects and manufacturing modernization initiatives.
Advanced certifications in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or related operational excellence methodologies.

Responsibilities

Lead and develop the engineering organization, including engineering managers and technical staff, ensuring technical capability, accountability, and professional growth.
Promote a customer-focused engineering culture aligned with internal and external customer expectations.
Provide strategic leadership for engineering initiatives supporting safety, quality, delivery, cost, and operational excellence.
Partner with Operations, Quality, EHS, and other cross-functional teams to improve manufacturing performance and support production goals.
Lead engineering problem-solving using structured methods, including root cause analysis, Lean manufacturing tools, and Design of Experiments (DOE).
Champion continuous improvement to enhance productivity, equipment reliability, manufacturing capability, and cost efficiency.
Oversee capital planning, justification, and execution for capacity expansion, process improvements, and manufacturing technology modernization.
Manage and prioritize engineering projects in alignment with site objectives, timelines, and budget constraints.
Integrate new manufacturing technologies and capital equipment to support operational performance and long-term strategic growth.
Manage the planning, purchasing, and execution of the capital expenditures process.
Promote safety, accountability, and operational discipline in support of an incident-free workplace.
Mentor and develop engineering managers and engineers, strengthening leadership capability, technical expertise, and problem-solving.
Ensure engineering processes support customer requirements, regulatory standards, and aerospace industry specifications.
Communicate engineering performance, project status, and strategic initiatives to senior leadership and key stakeholders.
Build, develop, and mentor high-performing engineering teams; establish performance expectations and accountability; lead talent development, succession planning, and leadership growth; manage evaluations, coaching, and development planning; support recruiting and onboarding; and address employee relations and operational challenges.
Ensure engineering activities align with company policies, regulatory requirements, and operational priorities.
Perform other duties as assigned.